Where's the Shock? Bold Cycles' Unplugged Prototype - Sea Otter 2018

Bold made their entrance into the mountain bike world three years ago with the launch of the Linkin, a 130mm 29er that caused no shortage of second (and third, and fourth) glances due to its design, which hides the shock inside the frame. A longer travel version was the next addition to the lineup, but now Bold are preparing to take things even further with their upcoming Unplugged model. The new bike has 29” wheels, with loads of tire clearance for big tires, and up to 165mm of travel depending on the chosen geometry setting.

The shock is still hidden in the frame, but Bold have taken steps to make it easier to reach without needing any tools. The access plate is now attached to the underside of the downtube by two magnets, and further secured into place by a bolt that threads into the outside of the bottom bracket shell. Additionally, while prior bikes used custom DT Swiss shocks, the new frame shape provides enough room to fit a shock with a piggyback reservoir, in this case a RockShox Super Deluxe.

What exactly is going on inside the frame? The Unplugged uses a Horst Link suspension design - the upper link has a bell-crank style shape that attaches to what would typically be the bottom of the shock inside the frame, with the top of fixed to the downtube using a trunnion style mount.

Even up close it takes a moment to wrap your brain around how it works, but once it clicks it makes total sense.

A look at the inside of one of Bold's earlier models.

A magnetic cover keeps the shock out of the way of mud and grime, but can be removed without tools to adjust air pressure and other settings.

Bold wanted to provide riders with plenty of options to configure the bike's geometry exactly to their liking. To that end, the headset bearings sit in a retainer that can be rotated to change the head angle by 1.5-degrees, resulting in a head angle of either 65-degrees or 63.5-degrees with a 170mm fork.

Match those numbers up with the 160ish millimeters of rear travel and the Unplugged looks like it could be quite the machine on the descents. The head angle isn't the only geometry figure that's adjustable – there are also four bottom bracket height and chainstay length positions, changes that are accomplished via a set of chips that sit where the chainstay is attached to the seatstay.

The are clever little details everywhere on the Unplugged, like this little fin that's designed to keep the chain from slapping against the derailleur housing.

A set of flip chips allows riders to pick from four different chainstay lengths.

All of the housing is routed internally, a feature that works with the hidden shock to creating an exceptionally clean looking bike. Bold will also be offering a dropper post that's fully integrated into the frame, a concept they worked with KS to execute. That post will have up to 150mm of drop on the medium and large sizes, but for riders looking for more drop, the post can be unbolted and replaced with a standard 31.6mm post.

The final stages of development on the Unplugged are currently underway, and if all goes to plan, this stealthy Swiss machine should be available by the end of July.

Measure from rear axle to a fixed point (like the seat) while fully extended. Then measure from seat to axle while on-board and subtract the difference. Like a dirt bike, it means you need a 2nd person to measure while you sit.

Wtf is that Question, they can print the marks around this big bearing, so you can look at proper sag at the rear wheel, not just at the shock, which is a proper way to further adjust it. Sick of rider lookin at sag at the damper, where you have a constantly changing leverage ratio ie 3)% at the shock != 30% at the rear axle. Just sayin'

I feel bike design has sort of peaked, I guess the differences between mainstream bikes is minimal in appearence and performance. For a design to be noticed it has to appear different, hence the search for almost pointless changes to stand out, even if it is to the detriment of function. It's the same with smart phones.

Had the 29er version at the shop last year and it was a looker.
Also didnt even bat an eye to doing all day laps at Coast Gravity Park.
This bike is up there with UNNO for me.. Brilliantly designed and executed..
well done BOLD

I'm really picky with suspension setup going back n forth with volume spacers and trying to different sag setups and what not. I love the clean look of this but for someone who likes to geek out trying different setups this just isn't gonna be a bike I cant get along with.

@mikekazimerDo you know if there has been any talk about adding sag measurements along the upper rocker around the bearing to allow riders to see what their sag is at? Maybe it's already there I just can't see it from the photos. A small detail that would be very beneficial.

Wouldn't this just give you more ways to geek out and try different setups? 4 chainstay lengths, and 2 headtube angles gives you 8 geometry setting to try, and then you could geek out with perfect suspension setups for all 8 geo's. You can still adjust the shock all you want, but it might take you 5 more minutes to make each of the changes.

As for the sag, they have a guide that lines up with a marking on the frame to measure sag. Seems easier that busting out the tape to measure sag on a shock without a guide on the stanchion.

@pacificnorthwet: ah yes so there are sag gradients on the frame. Makes sense they would have thought about this. Couldn't see so figured I'd ask.

My other question is, does this design only work with the trunion super deluxe? The new fox DPX2 shocks have their compression and rebound dials on the sides and I'm interested to know if you could reach them.

@pacificnorthwet: Round these parts we have a bunch of slopestyle type bike parks, most riders run slower rebound for them than they would on the trail. Also most people live and ride around 5-6000' but the top of the lift at resorts are around 11000' so you often change air pressure in the shock. Not the end of the world, but I could easily see people pulling that cover off 3 times a week. Probably not a big deal in other parts of the world.

I'm intrigued by this bike but I could find no prices whatsoever on their website for any of their bikes. Maybe I'm daft but I've been using the internet for a while now. I did find a page talking about how you could buy them online but no links. I'm curious what they cost. I also noticed the reach on their current long travel 29'er is only 436 in large, so will have to see the specs on this new frame (which is also not mentioned on their website that I could find). Maybe because I am browsing in English ?

It's like a bike, but it's used one of those tummy wraps being sold on facebook.... CUTE!?!?!

NO thanks, I like my bikes in the same way my wife likes me... junk hanging out all over the place ready to rock. If my wife had to flip me over and tickle my tummy to get to my junk, then remove a bunch of shit, the feeling would be so gone.

I feel like there's a new guy that walked in the door and saw bad ass suspensions as an eye sore... wtf... I'm not paying hundreds of bucks for eye sores, they are shocks, and I want to be able to use my hundreds of dollar parts without a surgery o.p.

Same on the E bike vibes... could come with an optional motor insert. I don't like how the BB area is chunky and the Head tube area is skinny... It seems like they are mosly doing it for looks... and now it looks disprportionate. It is cool that they got it all to fit in there though.

Was thinking the same thing. My DPX2 gets almost too hot to touch with more than 2-3k, and they used a structurally important location to tuck the piggyback in. And after reading about how Santa Cruz re-laminated a frame with a conventional oven...

That may be a concern. The concept does however leave room for maybe some active cooling. That is, what if the suspension is designed to also actively drive air through the chimney shaped housing of the shock (which obviously needs openings at the bottom and the top)? That may actually give you more effective cooling than the ambient air flowing past a shock when up to speed, as seen on conventional bikes. I expect they must have foreseen this concern.

@arden0: Excellent idea! Actually, I'd just fill it with water and have a whistle on top. Once the water boils, the whistle blows. Pop in a tea bag and voilà, you can actually enjoy a proper picknick halfway the Megavalanche. Considering the number of Brits attending these days, a tea break halfway should be essential.

When you want to look like you have an e-bike but can't bring yourself to actually ever own and use one..... The size of those tubes is obnoxious... The down tube, I get needs to be that size given the shock.... the seat tube top tube junction though... ick.